There was stormy weather the night before race day and a downpour an hour after the last runner crossed the finish line. But in the hours that mattered, no rain fell on the 500-plus people participating in the Helping Hands Foundation’s 5K run last month.

“It was windy and a little on the chilly side, but amazingly, nobody got rained on,” said Holly Miley, the foundation’s director of women’s and children’s services who coordinated the fundraiser.

The inaugural run was held on April 20 at the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Baseline Road Trailhead.

“We’re very, very pleased with the results,” said Brad Dinkins, founder and chairman of Helping Hands.

He noted gross proceeds totaled $40,000. The funds will benefit the foundation’s mission of helping local people in need — mainly single women and their children — with housing, food, clothing, education, job placement and faith-based counseling.